Lavonte David: Mike Smith Wants To Play
June 10th, 2016
“Fiery”
Joe wrote yesterday about the blossoming relationship between Mike Smith and his young linebackers. Smith is so hands-on with these guys, per Joe’s observations.
Lavonte David validated all that and more during an appearance on SiriusXM NFL Radio this week.
Asked about Smith, David explained that the gray-haired dude sweating his butt off and always talking all over the field is ready to walk the walk.
“From the communication aspect and what Coach Smith wants from us, it’s going pretty well,” David said. “He’s a coach that always, you know, just demands excellence. He’s fiery. (laughs) He’s one of those guys that actually wants to be out there on the field with you. I mean, he’s always communicating, always talking, breaking down the defense, details on what he wants on a certain defense.”
Pretty cool take there. Of course, Buccaneers defensive player are used to quiet, much more passive coordinators, though ex-Bucs linebackers coach Hardy Nickerson (2014-2015) also was fiery. But it’s different when it’s the boss.
As for learning the new defense, David said it’s not a big change for his approach because he always tries to attack every offseason as if he’s a rookie re-learning or learning everything he can in detail.
June 10th, 2016 at 10:44 am
this is good to read !
Seems like a father showin to his sons he is still able to kick their bottoms !
Now, we have to hope it will quickly translate on the field when it really matters
June 10th, 2016 at 10:50 am
Coach Smith inspires a contagious effort to excel on defense. You know it, I know it, the rest of the league is about to know it, if they do not already. Go Bucs! ASJ go one way or the other, you decide.
June 10th, 2016 at 11:03 am
I hope he does extremely well here.
June 10th, 2016 at 11:06 am
Everyone is fired up bc everyone has something to prove, FINALLY some purpose.
June 10th, 2016 at 11:24 am
As long as he wasn’t watching the same things in the same basement that Lovie did for his year off I feel good
June 10th, 2016 at 11:25 am
The nice part about going from coach my scheme’s defense to Coach Smitty’s defense is that every part of the Incompetent one’s whole defense pretty much is Coach Smity’s prevent defense section!!!! Now they just have to learn the rest of it!!!!
June 10th, 2016 at 11:25 am
in my Sunshine Anderson voice: “heard it all before”….time will tell….GO BUCS!!!
June 10th, 2016 at 12:07 pm
I’m so sick and tired of this offseason hype, it happens every offseason and then ( welcome to the real world). Mike Smith is getting all of these accolades, it’s like the fans are treating him like he’s the 2nd coming of Buddy Ryan. His defenses in Atlanta were some of the WORST in the NFL. In Jacksonville, the Jags had GREAT defenses there, but we still don’t know if were Jack Del Rio or Mike Smith defense. Dirk Koetter has NEVER been an HEAD COACH in the NFL, we don’t know what he will bring to the table. It’s never easy for a ROOKIE HEAD COACH in the NFL. Only time will tell, hopefully Koetter and the Bucs will be successful. But I’m not a believer in BLIND HOPE anymore, I have to see it on the field. Then I will believe, no more paper hype for me.
June 10th, 2016 at 12:40 pm
Lakeland the Falcons D was only bad 2 seasons under his watch and were like 15th on average throughout his tenure.
The collapse of their D seemed to coincide with Mike Nolan taking over and the deteriorating talent / lack of resources on that side of the ball. Dan Quinn is still rebuilding it. They didn’t have Gerald McCoys / Lavonte David’s or anything close really in their down years.
June 10th, 2016 at 1:46 pm
LAKELAND, You don’t have to worry about things with Jameis at the helm. As long as he’s healthy it takes alot of pressure off the team overall.
June 10th, 2016 at 1:57 pm
Hey Joe still want Gym shorts?
June 10th, 2016 at 2:47 pm
@Lakeland…I agree…and ive said many times that del rio was/is a defensive master mind….after jax he improved the defense in Denver that won tebow a playoff game and now he’s doing it in Oakland….time will tell if mike smith learned anything after getting canned and studying film in his basement….GO BUCS!!!
June 10th, 2016 at 2:55 pm
@Lakeland- I feel you brother. We’ve lived it for so long that it’s almost second nature.
I get excited about every season no matter what at this time of year. There’s so much promise and optimism this time of year.
I like what I hear. I hope we see it on the field.
June 10th, 2016 at 3:43 pm
Jesus lighten up y’all. We are Bucs fans. Let’s be excited about something while we can.
June 10th, 2016 at 5:31 pm
Lakeland and Bucsfanman, for a decade, this is the only time of year as Bucs fans we can be fired up. Why do you want to take that away from us? Relax and enjoy the ride. One of these years, all this offseason hype will turn out to be the real deal. Why not this year? It sure feels a little different.
June 10th, 2016 at 5:46 pm
“and ive said many times that del rio was/is a defensive master mind….after jax he improved the defense in Denver that won tebow a playoff game and now he’s doing it in Oakland”
Jax defense had great players and Mike Smith. Denver’s D improved without Del Rio under Phillips but were still a great D under both due to the insane talent on that side of the ball. But Phillips got more out of them last year than Del Rio did the prior year; when they were only 15th best in scoring D. Last year they were on a more historical level with mostly the same personnel.
Oakland is a team on the rise and now has a lot of talent on defense and in the O-line. They’ve had great drafts the last 3 years or so which is going to be the reason they turn it around imo. Not knocking del rio but I just don’t agree with the idea that he is some defensive guru. Oakland was still a bottom 10 scoring defense last year. Better than last place the prior year at least.
June 10th, 2016 at 6:02 pm
I really think I feel more hyped about this year than other offseasons for some good reasons. Im not gonna be a b!*ch and not be excited for the season to start. If I was I wouldn’t be reading JBF every day
June 10th, 2016 at 6:34 pm
Hayes resurrecting the pass rush will help Mike Smiths defense be effective. I strongly believe Smith is here no more than two seasons and Hayes will be our next long term DC. But I really don’t give a crap who it is a s long as we win some games!
GO BUCS!!!
June 10th, 2016 at 8:36 pm
Lakelandbuc, Mike Smith was Head coach at Atlanta and not the defensive coordinator. Jasksonvilles defense was top 10 to top 5 while MS was there. Before and after he left the defense declined while Jack was still HC.
June 11th, 2016 at 7:50 am
I honestly believe the hype feels different this year. But I look at the schedule and it’s a hard one. I really believe our D will be MUCH IN PROVED. it’s gotta be. 26pts a game last. I say no way we have that this year. And penalties if we can can cut them in half which I believe they can that’ll help out a lot. We shouldn’t be losing 2 games because of a kicker thus year either. I’m just very excited and I’m ready for the season. GO BUCS
June 11th, 2016 at 4:54 pm
Without hope why bother?
June 12th, 2016 at 8:21 am
Why not be excited? This is the only time of the year where the Bucs are undefeated! Gotta enjoy while we can…lol